North America
Singapore's Fireblocks closes Series E, hits $8b valuation
Fireblocks, a US and Singapore-based blockchain services provider that aims to “help every business become a crypto business,” has raised a USD 550m Series E round at a valuation of USD 8bn.
China IPOs: Offshore angst
Private equity exit timelines were thrown into disarray last year when US IPOs abruptly stopped. Regulators have offered some clarity, but investors are unsure when – or if – the magic will return
PE consortium cuts 51job take-private offer by 28%
A private equity consortium pursuing a take-private of US-listed Chinese online recruitment platform 51job has cut its offer price by 28%, citing deteriorating market conditions, regulatory tightening in China, and the continuing impact of COVID-19.
TPG invests $360m in India's Fractal
TPG Capital has agreed to invest USD 360m – including primary and secondary components – in India and US-based data analytics provider Fractal. It facilitates a partial exit for Apax Partners.
AGIC exits healthcare business Ritedose to Novo Holdings
AGIC Capital, which specializes in cross-border deals along the China-Europe axis, has agreed to sell pharmaceutical manufacturing and packaging business Ritedose Corporation to Novo Holdings.
NewQuest set for TPG windfall if Fund V hits $1.75b
The management team of Asia secondaries specialist NewQuest Capital Partners stands to receive a $10 million payout if the firm raises $1.75 billion for its fifth fund, as part of TPG’s acquisition agreement.
ADV backs Asia, North America flooring manufacturer
ADV Partners has acquired a significant minority interest in CFL Technologies, a flooring materials business with a presence in multiple locations in the US, China, and Vietnam.
2022 preview: Macro & buyout
Will the bullish investment environment persist through 2022? Most Asia-based private equity players expect to remain busy, although they acknowledge a lack of visibility around macro and geopolitical risk
Blue Owl buys Asia-based placement agent
US alternative asset manager Blue Owl Capital has acquired Hong Kong placement agent Ascentium with a view to establishing a physical presence in the territory and pursuing a broader regional expansion.
Diversity, inclusion agendas require patience - AVCJ Forum
Executing a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) agenda in private equity requires intentionality, multiple areas of focus, and above all time, given the apprenticeship nature of the industry, the AVCJ Diversity & Inclusion Forum heard.
China's Didi to delist in New York
China ride-hailing platform Didi, which has traded poorly ever since being targeted by regulators in the wake of its IPO in June, plans to delist from the New York Stock Exchange and relist in Hong Kong.
Key takeaways: Apollo Global Management’s Marc Rowan
High valuations, pursuing complexity, and eradicating write-offs were on the agenda when Marc Rowan, co-founder and CEO of Apollo Global Management, spoke at the AVCJ Forum. Here are some highlights
Apollo prioritizes yield, hybrid strategies in Asia - AVCJ Forum
Apollo Global Management’s yield and hybrid businesses – rather than private equity – are likely to account for the bulk of its activity in Asia, with Marc Rowan, the firm’s co-founder and CEO, saying he has no desire to “add to the growing...
Japan's Olympus launches VC unit, $50m fund
Japan’s Olympus Corporation has launched a medical technology-focused venture capital unit, Olympus Innovation Ventures, with an initial commitment of $50 million for its debut fund.
Q&A: Thoma Bravo’s Orlando Bravo
Orlando Bravo, founder and managing partner of Thoma Bravo, which claims to be the largest PE investor in software globally, on SaaS in a post-COVID-19 world, the rise of blockchain, and opportunities in Asia
Q&A: 500 Global’s Christine Tsai
Christine Tsai, co-founder of 500 Global, formerly 500 Startups, reflects on how a planetary approach to seed-stage VC has changed the asset class, the developing world, and the firm itself
Temasek leads $550m round for US cybersecurity player Orca
Singapore’s Temasek Holdings has led a $550 million Series C round for US cybersecurity provider Orca Security that will support an Asia expansion.
Pacific Century’s insurtech business extends Series A to $210m
Pacific Century Group’s insurance technology business, Bolttech, has extended a recent $180 million Series A round to $210 million in total.
500 Startups closes $140m global fund, rebrands
500 Startups has closed its largest-ever global fund at $140 million, while simultaneously rebranding as 500 Global and expanding its strategy to include later-stage deals.
China take-privates: Holding pattern
Pressure is mounting on Chinese companies listed in New York, from domestic and US regulators. Is another wave of PE-backed take-privates imminent?
China-focused NFT marketplace Cybertino raises $10m
A group of Chinese investors including Sky9 Capital, Ince Capital, and Draper Dragon have joined a $10 million round for non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace Cybertino Lab.
Japan's Shiseido sells US makeup brands to Advent
Japan’s Shiseido has extended a program of non-core divestments with the sale of three of its US makeup brands to Advent International for $700 million.
Australia's Blackbird leads Series B for education start-up
Blackbird Ventures has led a $25 million Series B funding round for Forage, an Australia-founded but now US-based provider of virtual training courses aimed at students.
China's PatPat gets $160m in Series D extension
PatPat, a Chinese-founded children’s wear brand, has raised $160 million from Softbank Vision Fund in a Series D round extension.